"Just as in ordinary times one tries to elevate oneself, so does one strive in these times of calamity to lower oneself and be forgotten, or atone for one's inferiority by seeking to degrade oneself."] [Footnote 3215: Madame Roland: "Memoires," I., 23.] [Footnote 3216: Archives Nationales, F.7, 31167.

This set of papers contains five hundred and thirty-seven police reports, especially those of Nivose, year II.

The following is a sample Report of Nivose 25, year II.

"Being on a deputation to the convention, some colleagues took me to dine in the old Breteuil gardens, in a large room with a nice floor....
The bill-of-fare was called for, and I found that after having eaten a ritz soup, some meat, a bottle of wine and two potatoes, I had spent, as they told me, eight francs twelve sous, because I am not rich.

'Foutre!' I say to them how much do the rich pay here ?...